My daughter and I are both lucky to have olive-colored skin. Even after a long day in the sun, swimming, camping, or hiking, neither of us will end up with a sunburn. It wasn’t until I babysat a friend’s fair-skinned child– who had experienced a severe sunburn the previous day– that I witnessed just how excruciating sunburns can be for children. Fortunately, a combination of simple, at-home measures helped to alleviate the pain and discomfort associated with the child’s sunburn.
If your child is suffering from a sunburn, several naturopathic measures can help to alleviate his symptoms. Here are some tips for naturally treating kids’ sunburns at home.
1. Use aloe vera. The degree to which aloe vera alleviates sunburn pain is still up for debate, with some studies suggesting that it is highly effective, and others stating that any cool liquid can offer the same effects. Regardless, aloe vera does seem to help many children find relief from the itching, burning, and stinging associated with sunburns. Apply the gel to the affected area to ease discomforts.
2. Consider applying lavender oil. I have used lavender oil as a general treatment for burns for several years, and it seems to help me get fast relief from discomfort and to speed healing. However, its efficacy isn’t well-studied and children may rarely react to the compounds in it. If your practitioner gives you the go-ahead, blend la few drops of lavender oil with aloe vera gel or water and put it on your child’s sunburns.
3. Run a cool bath. Cool baths can help to relieve discomforts associated with sunburn. Allow your sunburned child to soak in a cool– but not cold– bath tub for a about ten minutes. If she finds this uncomfortable, run a tepid bath instead and add two ounces of baking soda to the water. Watch for signs that your child is getting too cold, such as shivering– you don’t want this home remedy to lead to hypothermia.
4. Give your child plenty of fluids. Kids can lose a significant amount of water to sunburn, both from heat exposure and through loss of skin fluids. Ask your child to drink at least three tall glasses of ice water throughout the course of the day (more if she is showing signs of dehydration) and offer electrolyte-enhanced products such as Pedialyte and sports drinks.
5. Get expert help. Sometimes, natural treatments for kids’ sunburns just wont’ cut it, and you’ll need to contact an expert for help. If your child has severe pain, large blisters, a fever, or signs of infection, call her pediatrician promptly. Remember that, when it comes to sunburn, an ounce of prevention is very much worth a pound of cure– so keep sunscreen on your child throughout the warm months. Always defer to expert judgement if you believe your child is sick or injured, due to sun exposure or any other cause.
The Saint Louis Children’s Hospital offers more information about treating sunburn in children.
